Submerged booster pump construction



Feb. 13, 1945. R R URT|$ ETAL 2,369,282

SUBMERGED BOOSTER PUMP CONSTRUCTION Filed Feb. 6,- 1943 s sheets-sheet 1 Af6' 27 30 b Z4- l 24a. Z5 3l 227 FE1-12D@ @asas-1. QQ Caer/6.

Fb- 13, 1945 R. CURTIS ET Al. 2,359,282

SUBMERGED BOOSTERl PUMP CONSTRUCTION 4Filed Feb. 6, 1943 3 sheets-sheet 2 Passe-L ,e @wer/6;

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3 Sheets-Sheet 3 `Feb. 13, 1945-l l R. R. CURTIS ErAL SUBMERGED BOOSTERPUMP CONSTRUCTION Filed Feb. 6, 1943 e. s. n @E .3. e. d a, f. s@

PatentedV Feb. 13, 1945` Russell R.

, CONSTRUCTION A l Curtis and Robert J. Schroeder, Dayton,

Ohio, assignors to Curtis Pump Company, Dayton, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application February 6. 1943, Serial No. 474,971v Y s claims. (Cl. s-87) This invention relates to a pumpV construction adapted to be mounted ona wall ofa tank to pump fluid from the interior of the tank and having a removable end assembly on the outside of the tank 'giving access to all interior pump parts. Specically this invention relates to a com'- bined motor and centrifugal pump unit adapted to be mounted on a tank wall and submerged in liquid such as gasoline contained in the tank, which unit is arranged so that the pump parts can be completely serviced from the 'outsi e of the tank.

The pump and motor unit of this invention includes a one-piece casting having a base portion adapted to be mounted on the wall of a tank together with a pilot portion insertable in Y an aperture of the tank wall and dening an open-ended chamber for receiving a removable pump volute defining cap and throat ring. The casting has an-upstanding leg portion carrying, in spaced relation above the throat ring, a motor support and seal chamber.

A motor mounted on the support portion of the casting has a drive shaft extending through the seal chamber, and through the space between the pilot portion and vvmotor support into the pump volute chamber. An impeller, a propeller, and seal constructions are mounted on -this shaft. All of these constructions are removable from the assembly without removing the unit from the tank by removal of the end cap and throat ring from the base portion of the casting. The end cap can be removed without disturbing the mounting of the unit on the tank. The throat ring is held in place by the end cap and can be removedV when the end cap is removed.

A feature ofthe invention resides in the'provision of removable membersincluding an'end cap and a throat. ring vto denne, in the pilot portion of the casting, a pump volute chamber. It is an object of the invention to provide a pump and motor unit that is readily mounted.

provide a very lightweight; compact and efficient submerged type booster pump adapted for alrplane fuel systems.

A still furtherl object of the invention-is to provide an electric motor-driven centrifugal typepump unit adapted to be submerged in liquid for'diverting bubbles of gas and vapor in the liquid away from the pump impeller so that the pump will only discharge fully liquid material.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a combined electric motor-centrifugal pump unit having a single part serving as a mounting means, a pump chamber receptacle, and a motor support.

...Another object of this invention is to provide v a pump and motor unit with a drive shaft carrying an impeller, a propeller, a seal construction, and a llangetrap construction, all of` which are accessible by removal of 4an end cap on the Other and further objects of the invent-ion will be apparent to those skilled inv the art from the following detailed description-of the annexed sheets of drawings which, by way of` a preferred example only, illustrate one embodi- 4and 2, illustrating the manner 'in which parts of the unit can be' removed by removal of an end cap of the' unit without disturbing the mounting of the unit on the tank.

As shown on the drawings: l In Figures 1 to 3 inclusive the reference numeral Ill designates generally an electric motor-centrifugal type pump unit of this invention. `'Ihe unit Ill includes a one-piece casting j l I having a base portion Ila, an upstanding postl or leg portion I Ib. and a. motor support portion llc in spaced relation above the base portion lla.

The base portltm Ila has an annular molmting flange l2 therearound together with an apertured thickened annular portion Il inwardly of the nange I2. An upstanding boss portion ll, as best shown in -Illgure 1, is also elevational view, with parts formed on the base portion Ila outwardly of T such as the bottom wall of a tank. The shoul- `der I will fit snuglyin the opening O and the flange I2 can abut the outside surface of the tank wall to position the thickened portion |3 and boss portion I4 of the base IIa inside of the tank. A mounting ring I6 is mounted inside the tank on the tank wall T around the opening O and is tapped to receive cap screws I1 which extend through the flange 2 and the tank wall T for mounting the unit In on the tank.

The thickened portion |3 of the base Ila has a cylindrical bore |8 therein opening at the bottom of the base portion and terminating at the other end in an inturned flange portion I9 providing a reduced cylindrical opening .20 at the top end of the thickened portion as well asv an abutment shoulder 2| at the top end of the cylindrical bore.

`As shown in Figures 1 and 2. a throat ring 22 is seated in the upper end of the cylindrical bore I8 and in the opening 20 of the thickened l well under the bearing B and is bottomed on a flame trap member 38 press fitted into the well The springA portion I3 and has 'a shoulder 22a bottomed on the shoulder 2|. This throatring 22 has a central aperture 23 therein which converges inwardly from the top thereof to provide a flaring the ring 22 against the shoulder 2|' of Athe thick ened portion I3.

A gasket (not shown) can be provided between the flange 24a of the end cap 24 and the base I| a to seal the end cap relative to the base even though the throat ring prevents full seating of this flange on the base. l

As shown in Figure 1, the boss I4 on the base portion |Ia denes an open-ended passageway 26, open at the bottom end, thmugh the base portion I Ia and open at the top end inside of the tank. This passageway 26 communicates with a port or passageway 21 through the thickened portion I3 and leg IIb with a volute chamber 28 defined in the thickened portion by the throat ring 22 and end cap 24. This lvolute chamber 23 communicates with the throat 23 and is shaped in the conventional pump volute form with the restricted portion thereof discharging into the passageway 21. Thepassageway 21, in turn, discharges into the vertical passageway 26 ofthe bossy I4.

A conduit fitting 29 is seatable oneither end of the boss I4 so that the passageway 26can discharge either` to the inside or to the outside of the tank T. As illustrated in Figure l, the fitting 29 is on the inside of the tank and the other end of the passageway 26 is closed by a cap '30. A single bolt 3| extends through the cap and is threaded into a spider 29a of the conduit fitting,

, 29 to'hold both the conduit fitting and the end canin position on the ends of the boss I4. Gaskets (not shown) c'an be provided between the A cup shaped motor casing 32 is carried on I the motor support `portion Ilc of the casting and has an outwardly flanged mouth enveloping a gasket 33 on the support portion IIc of the casting II. A collar 32a is threaded on the support portion IIc and surrounds the flanged mouth to compress a gasket 33 between the support portion and the casing.

The motor support portion I Ic of the cast' II has a. central open ended boss portion 34 dening a shaft well '35 through which a drive shaft 36 from the armature A of a motor in the casing 32 projects. This boss portion 34 provides a seat at the upper end thereof for a shaftbearing B. A spring washer 31 is mounted in the 35 on a shoulder 35a of the well. takes up axial movements of the bearing B. The flame trap member 38 freely receives the drive shaft 36 therethrough.

The shaft well 35 is` counterbored at the lower end thereof to provide an enlarged `chamber which is topped by-a shoulder 40a." The drive shaft 36 has av reduced portion 36a starting at a flat shoulder 38h in the enlarged chamber portion 40 and extending into a central hollow por-y tion 24h of the end cap 24.

A resilient gasket or washer 4| is seated on I the shoulder 36h and receives thereover the end wall' of a second ame trap member 42 which closely hugs the shaft 36 andhas an outwardly flaringupper end enveloping the first mentioned ilametrap member 38 in spaced relation therefrom. The members 36 and 42cooperate to 'provide an elongated narrow path joining the well 35 with the bearing 36. This path will allow passage of gases and vapor but will not permit propagation of flame therethrough. is stationary and can be composed of ceramic material or other non-heat conductor while the member 42 revolves with the shaft 36. A stationary seal ring 43 is seated in the enlarged well chamber 4|) against the shoulder 40a thereof. This seal ring 43 has a central aperture therethrough larger than the member 42 to loosely accommodate this member.

The seal ring `43 is held in the chamber 40 by means of a sleeve 44 which is threaded in the chamber against a washer 46a coveringv a resilient gasket 45 bottomed on the seal ring.

The seal ring 43 has a at bottom face around the. central aperture thereof receiving in sliding contact therewith the top face of a rotating seal ring 46. 'This rotating seal ring 46 loosely receives the flame trap member 42 therethrough but has a. flexible'diaphragm 41 preventing leakage between the flame trap member 42 and the ring.

This flexible diaphragm 41 is clamped around the inner marginal portion the'reof between the end wall of the member 42 and a spacer sleeve 48y the diaphragm are sealed.

The stationary seal ring 43 is preferably composedy of compressed graphitic carbon material.` u ,while the rotating seal ring 46 is preferably com' The member 38A posed of a 'hard metal such as ultra-alloy. The spring 49 urges the rotating seal ring 46 into sliding face to face engagement with the stationary seal ring 43. The ring 46 is driven by the drive shaft of the motor.V

A hollow conical guide shield has legs 5|a on the enlarged upper end thereof secured to the underface'of the motor support portion ||c by means of cap screws such as 5|b. y This guide shield 5| has the lower end thereof Held in spaced relation above` the throat ring 22 while the upper end thereof is below the motor support portion l Ic.

The space between the motor support portion llc and the base ||a is enveloped by a screen 52 which also surrounds the shield 5|. This screen can be tted around an upstanding shoulder at the base of the thickened portion ,I3 and extends v into abutting engagement with the collar 32a of throat 23 of the pump.

A propeller 53 is mounted on the shaft portion 36a under the spacer sleeve48 and has the blades thereof at a level between the throat ring 22and the bottom of the guide shield 5l.

An iinpeller 54 in the form of a disk with upstanding vanes 55 thereon has a central hub portion 54a, mounted on the shaft 36a and clamping the propeller 53 against the bottom of the sleeve 48.

pressed into a groove on top of the impeller hub 54a so that the propeller will be driven.

The impeller 54. itself is keyed to the shaft 36 by means of a key 56 having one leg seated in a groove 5l in thebottom' ofthe impeller and the other leg 'seated in a keyway 58 in the shaft 36a, as shown in Figure2. 1

A nut 59 is threaded on the end of the shaft portion 36a, to hold the keyvin the keyway or groove 5l as well as inthe keyway 58. Thisnut thrusts against the bottom. of the impeller 55 and exerts a thrust on the impeller, the propeller 53, the sleeve 48the diaphragm 41, the flame trap member 42 and the gasket 4| to clamp all of these the nut and the shoulder 36h pump-motor unit. 'I'hus the pump can be quick-l ly serviced without removing it from the tank T.

As also indicated in Figure 3, the parts carried in the well chamber 40 are likewise removable by simple removal of the sleeve 4.4. and as further shown in Figure 3, the throat ring 22 is removable from the pump assembly.

'The end cap`24, as explained above, has' a central hollow portion 24h receiving the end of the shaft 36a and the nut 59. This hollow portion can have a port closed hya screw plug 60.' The plug can be removed to drain impurities from the hollow portion 424h without 'removing the end cap.

In addition.'

From the above descriptionsit should be un- I The propeller 53 has a central hub r portion which can be provided with a tang 53a derstood that this invention now provides a sub- Y' merged pump and motorf unit adapted to be mounted on the wall of a. .tank which unit is equipped with a removable end cap construction giving access to all interior pump parts and making possible a. quick replacement of these parts without disturbing the mounting for the unit.

A feature of the invention resides in the pro- Y vision of an end cap and a. throat ring to define a pump volute chamber and' inlet to this chamber.

Another feature resides in the mounting of an impeller, a propeller, a spacer sleeve, a rotating seal part, and a rotating flame trap part on a motor drive shaft andin clamping all of these parts in operative relation between a nut on the end of the shaft and a shoulder formed on the shaft.,A

It -will of course, be understood that various details of construction may be varied through a wide range without departing from the principles of this invention and itl is, therefore, not the purpose to limit the patent granted hereon other-'- Wise than necessitated by the scope of the appended claims.

We claim asour invention:

1. In a fuel system, a fuel tank, a pump and motor assembly' in said tank to deliver gasfreed liquid fuel which comprises a member having spaced opposed pump chamber and motor chamber portions, said pump chamber portion having a central liquids inlet communicating with the space Ybetween said portions to receive fuel directly from the tank, a motor in said motor the pump chamber portion connected to said drive meansand a propeller on said drive means positioned in the space between the pump chamber and motorchamber portions of the casing in advance of the central liquids inlet. for directing bubbles of gas and vapor away from said central liquids inlet.

2. A pump and motor assembly adapted for submersion in liquid to deliver gas-freed liquid@ which comprises a member having spaced opposed pump chamber and motor chamber portions,.said pump chamber portion having a een;

tral liquids inlet communicating with the space between said portions, a motor in said motorV `chamber portin, drive mean's extending from ,said motor across the space between said portions into said pump chamber .-portion, a pump Aimy peller in the pump chamber portion mounted on said` drive means, a propeller mounted on said drive means in advance of the central liquids in- Vlet of the pump chamber` portion, and an inverted hollow conical guide Vshield suspended from said motor chamber portion in the space between the motor chamberv portion-and the' pump chamber .from the prop eller can flow Y of the guide shield.

portion-,said guide shield having a large open -end in spaced relation beneath the motor chamber `portion and a. small open end adjacent said propeller whereby liquid `can flow through the guide shield to the propeller and whereby liquidV along the outer face ange therearound, an upstandingprtiom and a motor support portion, on said upstanding portion in spaced opposed relation from said base portion, said base portion having a chamber aligned with said motor support portion, removable means mounted in said chamber defining a. pump volute and a central inlet for said volute, a motor on said motor support portion having a drive shaft extending through said central inlet, an impeller on said drive shaft for pumping liquid from said inlet to said volute, and an integral upstanding hollow boss on said base portion in laterally spaced relation from seid chamber but communicating with said volute to receive liquid therefrom. y

4. In a centrifugal type pump assembly the improvement of a member adapted for attachment to a tank wall, said member having a portion adapted to project through an aperture in the tank wall on which the member is mounted,

said portion defining an open ended chamber with a restricted open end projecting inside of the tank on which the member is mounted, a

removable throat ring in said chamber abutting 4member is mounted.

5. In a centrifugal type pump assembly the improvement of a mounting base adapted to be attached to a tank wall around an aperture in the wall to cover the aperture, said base having a chamber-defining portion adapted to project into the tank,.a removable throat ring insertable in said chamber through the bottom of said base from outside of a tank on which the base is mounted and defining a central liquids inlet. and a removable end cap insertable in said chamber through the bottom 'of said base from outside of a tank on which the base is mounted for cooperating with said throat ring to dene a pump volute chamber.

6. In an electric motor and pump unit the improvement of a one-piece member having a base portion adapted to be mounted on a tank wall around an aperture in the tank wall, said member including an open-ended chamber defining portion having one open end projecting through said aperture vinto the tank and the other open end on the outside of the tank, said member having an, upstanding post portion projecting in the tank and a motor support portion on the upper end of said post portion, a motor drive shaft extending from said motor support portion into the open-ended chamber, a removable end-'cap closing the ,bottom of said chamber, a removable throat ring held in said chamber by said end cap and cooperating therewith to define a pumping chamber, pump means on said drive shaft, seal means on said drive shaft, and means adjacent said end cap on said drive shaft releasably securing said pump and seal means on the drive shaft whereby all of said means and said throat ring can be removed from the drive shaft by removal of the end cap without removing the unit from the tank. Y

7. In a submerged type booster pump including spaced opposed pump casing and motor casing portions, removable-means in said motor casing portion defining a pump volute and a central inlet for said volute, an electric motor on said motor support portion, a drive shaft extending from said electric motor into said central inlet, said drive shaft having an abutment thereon intermediate theends thereof, a removable fast tening means on the end of said drive shaft, and

pump and seal means on said drive shaft clampedv between said abutment and said removable means.

8. A pump and motor unit comprising a onepiece casting having a ii'at base portion with an attachment flange around the periphery thereof and'an annular thickened portion adapted to project into a tank when the attachment flange is mounted on the outside of the tank Wall, a

post portion extending from said base portion and a motor support portion, on said post portion aligned with said thickened portion, a motor drive shaft supported on said support portion extending into the thickened portion, means in the thickened portion providing a pumping chamber, said means being removable from said thickened portion from outside of the tank, said drive means having a' shoulder thereon, a flame 

